This time when I lean down and kiss her…
It isn’t because we survived.
It isn’t because we’re afraid.
It’s because it’s real.
And neither of us is pretending anymore.
37
Saint
The baby monitor crackles.
Then—
Crying.
Not the panicked kind.
TheI am deeply offended by the universekind.
I stare at the ceiling for a second and consider pretending I didn’t hear it.
For exactly half a second.
Then I hear Wolf’s voice in my head.
Don’t even think about it.
I sigh and swing my legs out of bed.
My ribs still complain from the beating I took at the processing plant, but I ignore them as I shuffle down the hallway.
The cabin is quiet.
Wind taps softly against the windows, and the old wood creaks as the temperature drops outside.
I push open the nursery door.
She’s red-faced and furious.
Little fists clenched.
Eyes squeezed shut like she’s personally insulted by the entire situation.
“Hey,” I whisper. “Okay. Okay. I’m coming.”
I lift her out of the crib.
For a second she stiffens.
Then she relaxes against my chest like she recognizes me.
That still messes with my head.
I glance over at the dresser where Laney taped the emergency instructions.
